Oasis Academy Putney Pupils Shine in Eco Reading Challenge!

Oasis Academy Putney is delighted to announce the success of its pupils in the ‘Eco Reading Challenge,’ a special programme developed in collaboration with The Scrubbery and Putney High School, aimed at promoting climate action and sustainability through reading. In July, the pupils’ hard work and dedication were celebrated at a heartwarming awards ceremony held at the academy.

The academy had the honour of welcoming Deputy Mayor, Councillor Finna Ayres, who attended to present the awards. Councillor Ayres praised the students for their remarkable efforts and emphasised the importance of such initiatives in building a sustainable future.

The Eco Reading Challenge was a joint project with Putney High School GDST, generously supported by HSBC and the GDST Partnership Funding. Launched in December, the programme provided pupils with a range of wonderful experiences, including workshops on sustainability at the Natural History Museum, lively book club sessions discussing the cli-fi novel City of Rust, and even a meet-and-greet with the book’s author, Gemma Fowler. Additionally, the academy library expanded its eco-collection, offering pupils even more resources to explore.

The Scrubbery is a charity founded in early 2020 as a community enterprise to make scrubs for healthcare workers. Since then, it has expanded its work to include aid for Ukraine and has been generously hosted by Oasis Academy Putney for two years. After helping to establish the academy's new library, The Scrubbery addressed a shortage of books on sustainability, climate, and the future of our planet.

Rosie Taylor-Davies, the Founder of The Scrubbery, said, “The importance of reading from reliable sources and introducing young children to ambassadors in the field cannot be overstated. It’s all about possibility thinking, and Åsa Nylinder has been exemplary in applying for the eco-grant from the start. 

"In planetary terms, we will remain where we are today unless we become part of the change we wish to see, which makes investment in this type of education for primary school children essential. It has been wonderful to see how excited and engaged the students have been throughout this programme. We are truly grateful to Putney High and HSBC for making this venture possible.”

Åsa Nylinder, Librarian and Project Leader at Putney High School, shared, “We often hear that small changes made by many people can help avert the climate crisis. Learning about these small changes at an early age will instil lifelong habits in future generations that will benefit us all. That’s what made our project important and inspiring, and we believed it was worth sharing with the wider world.”

Interim Executive Principal, Mrs Elliott, added, “At Oasis Academy Putney, we believe in empowering our pupils with knowledge and skills that go beyond the classroom. The Eco Reading Challenge has been an incredible journey of discovery and growth. We are so proud of our pupils’ achievements and their commitment to making a positive impact on our world from such a young age.”

The Eco Reading Challenge has demonstrated the power of education in driving positive change. The academy look forward to continuing efforts to inspire and educate pupils about the importance of sustainability and climate action.